Adult Children

When you were one, you'd come visit me -
At work, where I'd most always be.

By the time, you were three,
Our world was just you and me -
Mommy and Jeri...
Alone at sea.

At the age of five, our roller coaster took a dive;
Together, we made it out alive.

However, when you'd turned seven,
God blessed us from Heaven.
Brand new lives were we given.

Eight saw you become a big brother -
By nine, one like no other.

Thirteen is when you really hit the ground running -
Watch out world... Jeri's coming!

These last few years I've seen you truly come into your own.
I am so very proud of how you have grown.

Jerimiah was born October 23, 1989, in Madison, Wisconsin. His father and I were nearing the end of our marriage, but I tried to keep it together for his [Jeri's] sake. Ironically, our marriage ended for Jeri's sake, as well as my own. At the age of two, we divorced and I and forged a new life for myself and for him. We had a rocky start, but eventually, the seas calmed for us and by the time he was seven years old, we were headed on the adventure of a lifetime. We packed up and moved to Colorado with Jeff, my husband.

Jeri has always been my pride and joy and I am very proud to be his mother. Jeff and I raised him in a small town in Colorado, so when he decided to leave the nest at age 17, I was terrified. He had plans to move to another state, and the thought of him being that far away depressed me. However, I was very proud of his initiative and independence.

It didn't sink in until he was not at the dinner table, that he'd gone out on his own. I cried intermittently for days. It took a while to get a hold of myself, but he called home enough to make me feel a little better.

Jerimiah stills calls me regularly, and no, not just for money, although he does call for that too.

He will always be my baby. I am working very hard to let go of the need to fix everything for him. I raised him right, and he has a good head on his shoulders; he doesn't expect me to fix everything, and that is how I know I did a good job.

No matter how hard I try, I cannot stop thinking of and worrying about my son. One thing that helps me with this eternal maternal thing is the fact that I know that he knows that if he ever needs me I am here. I am always with you Jerimiah. AWU

I know that he misses me too, at least my cooking.

My son and I have a bond that has grown so strong. We've been through a great deal together and all of our struggles have brought us closer.

In 2007, Jeri went to Europe as a Student Ambassador for the United States. That was a tremendous honor, and I was so proud of him. This is not an honor bestowed upon just any kids. These kids are nominated by someone, then interviewed and selected for this journey. He had a wonderful time while visiting France, Greece and Italy for 20 days. Sadly though, he moved out on his own shortly after returning.

My son is an artist. He plans to attend college to further his art and turn his talent into a career. I know I am his mom but, he is a very talented young man; I do believe in his abilities. And to think that I have locked away, the first drawings he's ever done. "I knew him when..."

This owl he drew in the first grade for a class project. He was seven years old!

Happy birthday, baby;
though not a baby these days.
Twenty years have gone by
since you first gazed upon the world and me;
your mom, the happy lady.
A handsome young man have you become,
from a once helpless babe.
I couldn't be more proud of you-
Or love you more than I do;
No matter what your age.
You will always be my babe.